Ian McGarvey

Ian McGarvey (born July 1929) is a former association footballer and former politician. He is a member of Donegal County Council, representing the Letterkenny Electoral Area.[1][2]

Ian McGarvey
Donegal County Councillor
In office
5 June 2009 – February 2023
ConstituencyLetterkenny
In office
June 2004 – June 2009
ConstituencyMilford
Personal details
BornJuly 1929 (1929-07) (age 94)
Political partyIndependent
Residence(s)Moorfield, Ramelton
Known forRecord-breaking mayoralties
Captaining Swilly Rovers to the 1962 FAI Junior Cup
Having a vine dedicated to him in the Thuringian town of Rudolstadt

Due to his age (his political career peaking while an octogenarian) he is often portrayed as an underdog, "They're always writing me off. I don't worry about that", he once said after being re-elected.[3] He has a special interest in the elderly, and has attracted attention after describing cuts to their care as a form of "euthanasia".[4] He did a noteworthy dance after being re-elected in 2014.[5]

McGarvey has lived at Moorfield in Ramelton, County Donegal, for more than 50 years. In April 2013, in the early hours, his home was attacked with stones and with spray, prompting police intervention.[6]

McGarvey spent a year working in Germany in 1960.[7] He played association football for Swilly Rovers and captained them to the FAI Junior Cup in 1962.[5][8][9] He has been a teetotaller (abstaining from alcohol) throughout his life.[7] He is related to Martin Docherty-Hughes.[10]

Aged 82, McGarvey became Ireland's oldest Mayor and Donegal County Council's first Independent Mayor in June 2013, succeeding Frank McBrearty Jnr.[11][12] Aged 85, he became Ireland's oldest ever general election candidate at the 2016 election.[13] Having earlier been Mayor of County Donegal, McGarvey became Mayor of Letterkenny in June 2018 - he succeeded either Gerry McMonagle of Sinn Féin[5] or Jimmy Kavanagh of Fine Gael[8] in that role. McGarvey was at this time approaching his 88th birthday and broke his own mayoral record set five years earlier.[5][8][9] As Mayor of Letterkenny, McGarvey - at this stage aged 89 - returned to Germany for the first time since 1960, visiting the Thuringian twin town of Rudolstadt and having a vine there dedicated to him and his wife Marjorie and a plaque erected at a vineyard.[7]

He retired from politics in February 2023. His nephew Pauric McGarvey was co-opted to Donegal County Council to replace him.[14]

References
  1. "Cllr Ian McGarvey tipped to be next Mayor of Donegal". Highland Radio. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  2. "Letterkenny Electoral Area". Donegal County Council. 18 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  3. "Reaction from Letterkenny Electoral". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  4. "Cllr McGarvey likens cuts to elderly care to euthanasia". Highland Radio. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  5. "Ian's big day - Ireland's oldest councillor (87) set to become Mayor of Letterkenny tomorrow". 12 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019.
  6. "Gardaí investigate attack on Cllr Ian McGarvey's home". Donegal Democrat. Johnston Press. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  7. "Donegal Councillor Ian McGarvey immortalised in wine". Donegal News. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019.
  8. McNulty, Chris (12 June 2018). "Ian McGarvey officially installed as Ireland's oldest mayor". Archived from the original on 15 June 2018.
  9. "Ian McGarvey becomes oldest mayor in Ireland". The Irish News. 13 June 2018.
  10. Walsh, Paddy (24 March 2022). "MPs lay claim to deep Donegal roots in House of Commons debate". Donegal News. p. 13. Next to his feet was Martin Docherty-Hughes (Dunbartonshire West) of the Scottish National Party. As someone with probably one of the longest Irish names in history - Máirtín Seán Ó Dochartaigh-Aodha - it would, he insisted, have been remiss of him not to have participated in the debate... 'I was delighted to be there to welcome the then Mayor of Letterkenny' - Councillor Ian McGarvey - 'who was related which was great'. Speaking during the House of Commons debate on the Irish Diaspora in Britain, promoted by Rochdale Labour MP Tony Lloyd, on 17 March 2022.
  11. "New mayor makes history". June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  12. "More stories to emerge from Local Elections". RTÉ News. 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  13. "Ian McGarvey considers running in forthcoming General Election". Highland Radio. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  14. "Donegal's newest councillor, Pauric McGarvey, has mica priorities on his mind". DonegalLive.ie. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
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